City of Sarnia bylaw officers investigated complaints at several businesses Monday as heightened COVID-19 restrictions took effect.
Some area businesses including a couple of fitness centres declared publicly they would defy the Grey-Lockdown provisions in Ontario's response framework.
City Bylaw Enforcement Manager Adam MacDonald said he's not at liberty to get into specifics but they continue to work in tandem with city police.
"Numerous businesses were investigated today as a result of complaints being filed within the department, one business has been charged and several other businesses were issued warnings," said MacDonald. "It's also important to remember that individuals who choose to attend businesses in violation of the lockdown requirements are also subject to an $880 fine."
A video posted on Sharky's Facebook page Monday afternoon showed bylaw officers accompanied by city police entering the Sarnia athletic club on London Line.
Club President and Owner Bill Van Hoogenhuize confirmed they were fined $1,130.
He said he'll fight the ticket and any others the gym gets.
"I'm pushing this on the corporate common law grounds that I did not enter into a contract with the Corporation of Sarnia, or the Corporation of Ontario," said Van Hoogenhuize. "They're trying to give me a fine that is [under] the Reopening Ontario Act, I don't have a contract with them to abide by any act so they don't have any legal right against me."
Hoogenhuize, who plans to be at the gym at 5 a.m. Tuesday, said officers told him they could target gym members in the parking lot and give them fines too.
"If that's the case, I'll be out there laying trespass charges against the police. My facility is 30 feet from the roadway so even the parking lot is on private property."
The City of Sarnia said if an individual or business continues to violate Grey-Lockdown requirements, they are subject to fines of up to $100,000 for an individual and up to $10,000,000 for a corporation.
Lambton Public Health issued a statement Monday saying businesses opening in defiance of the law present a significant health risk to the community. The health unit said it's working with local municipalities on all related COVID-19 enforcement calls under the Reopening Ontario Act.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade told a media briefing that the risk of exposure at a gym or restaurant is greater than at a retail store.
"So places that we've seen outbreaks happen like gyms are related to people huffing and puffing in small places and spreading the virus among them," he said. "The outbreaks that we've seen in places like restaurants are because restaurants are primarily a social behavior, people are there to socialize with whomever they're there with."
Dr. Ranade said it's always a very difficult decision to move forward with a lockdown but the immediate health risks from increased transmission are still a priority. He said confirmation that a significant number of Variants of Concern are now circulating in the community is the most alarming issue.
-With files from Josh Boyce and Colin Gowdy